Building Trust (in yourself, first)

As professionals, we’re often told to trust others, build relationships, and network like it’s the ultimate key to success. But in the hustle of doing all that, we sometimes overlook one very important factor: our instincts. We rationalize everything, don’t we? “Oh, I’m just being paranoid”, or “It’s probably nothing” are things I’ve said to myself countless times. But you know what? Our gut is always right. We just don’t give it enough credit.How often have you had that niggling feeling something isn’t quite right, but then talked yourself out of it? Maybe a colleague is acting a little off, or a business partner’s sudden change in behavior leaves you uneasy. Instead of trusting your gut, you rationalize, you assume the best, and you ignore that little voice telling you to be cautious. But here’s the thing—when we push those instincts aside, we’re giving up a powerful tool we’ve got.In business, trust isn’t just about believing what people say; it’s about believing in who they are and how they act over time. Trust is built through consistency,transparency, and shared values. But it also has to start with you—trusting yourself. Trust that you know when something is off, even when everything else seems fine on paper.

Are you overthinking it?

So, how do we actually start trusting our instincts more? It starts with one simple thing: recognizing when you’re rationalizing. Pay attention when your body is telling you something different from your mind. When you feel that little hint of discomfort, take a moment to sit with it before you dismiss it. Ask yourself: “Why do I feel this way? What’s really bothering me here?”

1, 2, 3… breathe

Take a pause. Give yourself time to reflect. Don’t make decisions in haste when you feel something is wrong. Just like you would give a colleague time to think over a major decision, give yourself that same grace. It’s okay to sit with uncertainty for a moment. Trust me, your future self will thank you for it.And lastly, test your instincts. Over time, see how often they line up with reality. You’ll start to notice patterns. Did you have a feeling that a certain business deal wouldn’t work out, and it didn’t? Or did you sense that someone’s promises weren’t genuine, and it turned out to be true? When your instincts align with reality, you’ll trust them more next time.In the end, we can’t ignore our own initial reactions just because they feel uncomfortable. In fact, those uncomfortable feelings are often trying to protect us. In business, we can’t afford to trust people or situations blindly. Yes, trust needs to be earned, but sometimes, it needs to be protected—by trusting yourself first.Remember, it’s not just about making decisions based on logic or data; it’s about listening to that inner wisdom and combining it with your rational thinking. When you trust yourself, you empower your ability to trust others. In leadership, trust is the foundation of everything—from team dynamics to collaborative environments, and to your overall reputation.
Next time you feel something’s off, don’t brush it aside. Trust your instincts.

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“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
— Dr. Wayne Dyer, The Power of Intention Dr. Dyer Official Website

This quote resonates deeply with me. My best friend, who’s like a sister to me,
constantly reminds me of the power of shifting perspective. I used to focus solely on
the negative, while she could easily be called “Ms. Positivity.” Over time, her outlook
has helped me see the transformative impact of reframing how we approach
challenges—especially at work and in everyday situations.

It’s important to surround yourself with people who help you grow. Whether it’s
colleagues, family, or close friends, the right support system can help you find
clarity when frustration clouds your judgment. However, the real shift has to come
from within. While these people offer guidance, you’re the one who chooses your
point of view. And sometimes, seeking help from professionals—a counselor,
therapist, or coach—can provide the tools you need to make that change.

Pressure Cooker

In today’s fast-paced work environment, frustration is inevitable. Whether dealing
with a difficult client, a stalled project, or a challenging team dynamic, workplace
“harsh moments” are usually part of the job. For leaders, especially in high-
pressure fields like talent acquisition, coaching, or even sales, managing bad
outcomes effectively is critical—not just for personal well-being but also for setting
the tone for your team.

Leadership is about staying composed under pressure. Reacting impulsively can
lead to missteps, conflict, or even damaging team morale. The ability to pause,
assess, and respond thoughtfully separates effective leaders from bad ones. And
trust me, I’ve also learned this greatly applies to personal matters.

People who dismiss emotions—whether their own or from those around them
—miss a key element of human interaction: empathy. Recognizing feelings, even
when they don’t align with our views, builds trust and helps teams navigate
challenges more effectively. Best leaders don’t disregard needs to prevent their
employees from feeling overlooked or undervalued. Real leadership is about
fostering an environment where emotions are acknowledged, and not brushed
aside as unimportant.

Mindful Thinking

Mindfulness can be a powerful tool for navigating frustration. And no, this doesn’t
mean you need to meditate or adopt formal practices (though those can help, too).
Mindfulness is simply the act of being fully present, aware of your emotions, and
intentional in your responses.

In talent acquisition, mismatched expectations are common—whether a candidate
isn’t the right fit or a hiring timeline is delayed. Some sort of anger in these
moments is natural, but taking a mindful pause allows leaders to reframe
challenges as opportunities to improve strategy or communication.

In sales, rejection is a regular part of the process. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by
pressure to meet quotas or close deals. However, resilience comes not from
pushing through blindly but from reassessing and adjusting your approach.
Mindfulness helps you stay focused on long-term goals, even in the face of
immediate setbacks.

Support System

While self-reflection and mindfulness are vital, having a strong support system can
make all the difference. Leaders often lean on their teams for guidance and insight,
but asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a mark of strength.

No one has all the answers. By tapping into the collective knowledge of your
colleagues, mentors, or trusted advisors, you create a network of shared wisdom.
These connections provide fresh perspectives and encouragement during tough
times.

Some people offer clarity when emotions run high. They might not have all the
solutions, but their insight and encouragement can help you reframe your thinking
and refocus on what matters most. You know – I’m sure – who is in your corner.

One Day At A Time

All of this we are talking about here is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to derail your
progress. And by progress, I mean your success. By shifting your perspective,
approaching challenges mindfully, and leaning on your support system, you can
turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.

A good combination of self-esteem, confidence, and external support can provide
the tools you need to see the bigger picture. When you’re open to change and
willing to ask for help, you create the space to feel abundant, in every sense of the
word.

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A few years ago, I went through a career shift that really shook me. I was laid off from a job I thought would last forever. It was devastating at the time, but looking back, that experience completely changed my perspective. It taught me that abundance isn’t about holding onto things—it’s about trusting that there’s enough love, growth, and opportunity in the world for all of us.

Abundance vs. Lack

Abundance and lack aren’t just about money. Lack can creep in when we feel like we’re not enough, or when we’re constantly chasing after what we don’t have. I’ve been there, stuck in that fear of not having enough, or even worse: not being enough. But here’s the thing: the moment I started focusing on what I did have—support from friends and colleagues, my own skills, and even the possibility of new opportunities—things started to change. 

Abundance is about shifting your mindset, choosing to believe that life will provide what you need when you need it. It’s not about ignoring challenges but about seeing possibilities instead of roadblocks.

Gratitude: The Path to Abundance

One of the simplest and most powerful ways to turn from lack to abundance is gratitude. It doesn’t have to be complicated. For me, it started with small things—being thankful for the people who believed in me or even just for the little wins each day. Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything’s perfect; it’s about recognizing the good that’s already here.

This practice opened my heart in ways I couldn’t imagine. It brought me closer to new opportunities, better relationships, and, most importantly, a sense of peace that wasn’t tied to external circumstances.

Small Happy Moments

Abundance isn’t just about the big moments; it’s in the little things we experience every day. Meditating regularly, practicing mindfulness, and appreciating those tiny joys—like playing with your dog every morning, a meaningful conversation, or just taking a moment to breathe to unwind. 

If you’re new to mindfulness or meditation, the good news is there are so many free resources online—videos, guided exercises, and more. You don’t have to invest a ton of money or time to start building these habits. A few minutes a day can make all the difference in how you approach life.

Letting Go

Letting go of fear is one of the hardest parts of living abundantly, but it’s also one of the most freeing. I’ve learned that when I stop clinging to what I think I lack, I can focus on what I can give and how I can grow. It’s not always easy, but letting go of that scarcity mindset allows us to see how much we truly have.

Spirituality: The Best Currency

True abundance is deeply spiritual. It’s about knowing you’re enough as you are and trusting that life will unfold the way it’s meant to. Deepak Chopra talks about this beautifully on his site, The Chopra Center. And if you’re looking for guidance on navigating life’s challenges, I recommend Miguel Ruiz’s book, The Four Agreements. Both have been invaluable in shaping how I see abundance—not as something to chase, but as something we already have within us.

Living abundantly doesn’t mean ignoring hardship or pretending life is easy. It means finding beauty in the small moments, trusting yourself, and being open to the possibilities around you. Whether through meditation, gratitude, or simply changing how you see the world, abundance is there—it’s just waiting for you to notice. Care to join me? 

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Be Yourself

Remember that phrase from Oscar Wilde that says “be yourself; everyone else is already taken”?
In today’s global work market, the only thing we can try to achieve that will make us feel good
about ourselves without taking its outcome into consideration, is the fact that no matter what you
do, as long as you are putting your heart and soul into it, it shows who you really are. Your
knowledge, passion, and original thoughts are much more important and meaningful to show than
the little amount of success you will get by doing whatever is trending in an slightly upgraded
version. A brand-new idea taken into action is probably better than one that’s been improved for
the millionth time.

Outside The Box

We usually say to our team members struggling with numbers or results to “think outside the box”.
But we, as leaders, keep repeating that shallow, meaningless phrase as if it actually worked to
encourage them. Of course it doesn’t. When leading and mentoring others, focus on who they are
so as to provide them with proper guidance. Research with them, push them to find those new
concepts by reading and learning, not only from you but from others. Having recurrent meetings to
share information and best practices strengthens our confidence and capability as team members,
and as individual professionals. Diversity shouldn’t be wishful thinking alone, but a tangible
component in the values we state as executives.

Are my ideas any good?

That’s a valid question. Maybe you think you need to mimic others to succeed. But no, you don’t
have to. Success is a journey that looks different for each one of us. Simply because success as a
concept is different for everyone, too. I talk about it in depth here but my point is
that being somewhat rare is an advantage. Chances are we do not all want the exact same thing in
the exact same way. Let’s take that as a sign of individuality, on the bright side of that word. Being
individual is not necessarily a bad thing. Quite the opposite, if you dismantle the idea of standing
out as something negative. There’s no such thing as ‘silly questions’ or ‘terrible ideas‘ if you are
pushing yourself to know more, learn, and collaborate with others.

Keep it Positive

If as a team member, or a leader, you are facing challenges of any sort don’t see them as ‘no-can
do’s,’ but as opportunities to grow. If what you are doing feels too difficult, if you can’t wrap your
head around it, or if you need more time to profit from it, that’s fine. I believe in the value of
creating meaningful and heartfelt stuff as a powerful motivator for human beings. I doubt there are
too many people out there that would rather “copy and paste” something they liked from another
person that having their own thoughts come to life. After all, most of us want to leave an imprint in
this lifetime. Right?

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These past few months have been challenging to say the least. Starting a business from scratch,
personal health, issues at home, you name it! And to top it all, I had a six-week trip planned for
months that I had to keep rescheduling because of this. The week before I left, I felt I was in a
completely chaotic mental state. That kept me wondering how many things I could’ve done
differently. Or how I could have prevented most of these events from happening. After a while, I
realized I did everything the way I was supposed to. But I don’t have a crystal ball and there was
no way for me to prepare better. Trust me: I did dig into my planning methods. Not a single detail
was left out of my tight planning. None. So… I think life reminded me once again that even if you
think you have it all covered: you don’t!

Have we forgotten about 2020 already?

Most people were left pretty scarred after the pandemic. Whether it was health-related, business-
related, or family and loved ones-related, our worlds were upside down and we had no clue what
was going on for a long time. It seems like a decade ago, but it wasn’t. And some more than others
are still trying to bring themselves together again. You are not alone. I am one of those people, too.

To make ends meet

When you come from a low-income background like myself, you have a lot of issues to deal with
throughout your life regarding money. The anxiety that the lack of financial stability generates in
you, usually takes a hard toll on your mind. Either you are extremely motivated by that fact and are
always pushing to improve yourself in this matter, or you have an almost indescribable constant
fear of “loosing it all”. So apart from therapy and counseling, it is important to move forward in your
career to grasp that sense of success when you look at your bank account.

Starting from scratch

Wether you are fresh out of college and looking for your first immediate job in your degree field, or
you are close to retiring but not quite yet, there’s always – and I do mean always – somewhere,
somehow, to start over. Being able to pursue your dreams and your passion to be in a job you
enjoy, where you feel appreciated and know you are making an impact it is a necessity for
everyone. More importantly, it is your obligation to oneself.

Do you have what it takes?

Unless you are reading this from six feet under, the answer is YES. Talking to people 24/7 helps
me understand better what the other person is going through. It also helps me connect with
unliked-minded people and question everything all the time. The one factor we all have deep inside
is fear. The reasoning behind it is different for everyone, though. With the right attitude, coaching,
and motivation you can accomplish what you want. Now, you do have to direct your energy to the
right goal. And by “right” I mean right for you.

Letting go

It’s 2024, people! Many of you reading this blog about recruitment, coaching, and lifestyles were
born AFTER cellphones were even invented. Can you imagine a day going by without your mobile
now? I guess what I am saying is that going with the flow and learning new stuff to let go of old
habits, unproductive ways of thinking and working -such as micromanagement leadership, to name
one- is crucial to stay up to date with what is happening around you. Do you want a job at a big

firm? Do you want to start your own business? Do you want to land your dream role after
graduation? Get up to speed. Just don’t forget to be kind and human while you are at it.

Should I share my success with my colleagues?

Yes, of course! I mean… if they are good people, they should be happy for you, right!? Hmmm… there’s no math in this equation. Unfortunately, some of your peers, managers, partners, or former bosses won’t necessarily be supportive when you get a promotion, or a bump in your paycheck, or tickets for a company training in another city. Truth is we are all making our way in the corporate world and there’s no equal path to a same finish line. So, if someone you thought would cheer for you once you got that recognition you had worked so hard for simply didn’t, try to understand that they may not have had foul intentions. Although… how many red flags are red enough for you to realize who you can actually trust?

Colleagues, not friends

When I first started in this industry, a common suggestion I got from peers at the office was: “get out of your cubicle!” Or “you need to talk to other people more”. I always responded in a very defensive tone that I was there to WORK, not to make friends. When I was ready and able to let down my guard, I realized I was spending too many hours at my job and not communicating to anybody else there other than my work related emails. And it was awful. It got boring and frustrating. I even started thinking I was only “good at work” and had no real connections with other people. I have a few friends from that time that are still in my life who I love for showing me I could trust them. And that I was in a safe environment. At least, most of the time. The so called “corporate world” can be devastatingly competitive and if you are not ready for it, you can get stepped all over. 

Healthy competition versus toxic one

Reality is most of us want to have solid careers. You know… as in being paid fairly, having the proper work-life balance, working in something you care about, and not having an upset stomach on Sunday night when you think about tomorrow morning. Competition is great. Working for productivity and not just pushing hours is essential. Self-worth and management recognition in the workplace matters more than we care to acknowledge. But if that turns into bad habits like gossiping about coworkers, lying to get ahead, cheating to have better results to show in comparison to the rest, then it is not healthy and makes teamwork literally impossible. And… you betcha! That team you are a part of or you lead will -no doubt whatsoever -fail. Nothing positive comes from endless meetings in which you need to share your results only to be compared to the rest of the group. Team up, not gang up against each other. Everyone shines at their own thing, at their own time. Be patient. 

A spotlight on leaders

Do you want to be a successful leader with the right team who listens to you and learns from you, takes your advice and puts it into action? Then mentor them. Coach them. Get to know who they are. What their lives look like. How they feel about working in a team under your command. Schedule weekly meetings with every single member of your squad. Set realistic goals. Ask them about their career objetives. Have a team chat for everyone to speak their mind during business hours. With you in it or not. That really doesn’t matter. What matters is they feel like they belong. They need to want to be there to help you help them. Practice active listening, not just nodding and repeating meaningless catchy phrases like “you are so spot on!” to just completely ignore what they told you 5 minutes ago. If you chose them to be in your team, or if the company did that for you before you even got there, there’s a reason. Find out which one it is. And move from there. Because if you want to make things work, you need to work with your people. Show them you really do care. That’s obviously assuming you -in fact- do. 

Table of Contents

If I go back in time and remember the industries that were impacted by unemployment over the years, worldwide may I add, I see the exact same streamlines in the past two decades. The more senior you get, the more overqualified you are for the role you want to be considered for. Hence, you are unemployed and have had that green banner in your profile for over a year. Let’s break it down to find solutions.

Are you really overqualified?

No, you are not. However, if you have 10-20 years of experience as a sourcer, or even as a talent acquisition consultant with full life cycle experience, but you haven’t dived into client management, sales, market intelligence, and/or leadership, then you kinda are… Why? Because you got to a certain paycheck now that could be split into two for two junior professionals instead of only one. We all know that quantity doesn’t mean quality, but unfortunately, it is a key indicator for many companies when hiring. “Why should I hire one TAC with twenty years of experience instead of two with maybe five each, and train them? They have a fresh mind, a friendlier approach to cutting-edge technology, and they want to learn.”

What can you add to your resume?

If you haven’t done it already, you need to study, learn, get used to new technologies and new market approaches to hiring processes in 2024. Broaden your horizons. Find your true passion. How long have you been staring at resumes? Two decades? There’s so much more to the TA work we do. In this era, personal information we once looked up on white pages is accessible in Google or any ATS, CRM, etc. your company might be using. You can find professionals on social media in less than 3 minutes.

Go ahead and take that sales course or that research one, or find a mentor that will train you on how to deal with tough clients and manage accounts. Train yourself on how to be a good leader and aim towards leading teams with all your experience. You have been there and done that with every new hire at your previous company, haven’t you?

How to “get out there” and have presence in the current market?

It sounds like something you will say to a friend who is looking to date more. And yes. Finding a new job is like finding a new love. You need to get out there and expose yourself. Connect with people on social media. LinkedIn is an amazing tool for you to generate a network worth being in touch with. You can connect with people from all seniorities, regions, languages, and beliefs. Most importantly, you will end up knowing someone in every major corporation that might someday look for someone with your unique expertise.

AI and its impact on the work market

Being able to have AI tools on your cellphone in 2024 has changed our lives. It was no surprise; AI has been in our computers for a very long time whether you noticed or not. The problem is, now it can scan resumes and fill in the blanks of any system you want to use for TA. The worse part is companies use it to reduce costs so the first part of the sourcing/interviewing gets done by “a machine” that reads resumes, finds the candidates’ contact information, does the first and second interviews with forms, videos, etc. so the candidate talks to a human being maybe after 3 steps in the hiring process and they meet straight with the Hiring Manager. That many professionals are no longer needed.

Let’s get creative

Re-do your resume. Your years of experience as a TAC are important, the different industries you have worked with are too. If you know anything about DEI, it is also a plus. But focus on what you have that the rest don’t. We are all unique in our own way. List the main differentiators of your work life and the reason why you are in this field. Passion is overlooked many times. It shouldn’t. Make a point out of that. Most importantly, read your application as if you were the one receiving it. Create it so the recruiter on the other side doesn’t think “No, they won’t be interested in this role”. And if you are lost and need an expert to guide you, bring a Career Coach into your life. Being in your 40s or above shouldn’t mean you are out of the competition. Remember: Keep doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results won’t get you far.